U.S. patent number 7,975,570 [Application Number 12/274,086] was granted by the patent office on 2011-07-12 for operation lever structure.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Motor Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Keiji Iino, Kazuyoshi Miyahara, Seishu Sakai.
United States Patent |
7,975,570 |
Iino , et al. |
July 12, 2011 |
Operation lever structure
Abstract
An operation lever structure wherein an operation lever is
pulled toward a left handle to cause a link to swing-move to
thereby operate an operation cable. The operation lever structure
is configured so that each of inside and outside rollers are
provided to an opposite end of the link. Inside and outside guide
holes for movably supporting the inside and outside rollers are
formed in each of a pair of inside and outside side walls. A
discharge opening is formed in a bottom part of the operation lever
for discharging a foreign matter that has entered the operation
lever.
Inventors: |
Iino; Keiji (Wako,
JP), Miyahara; Kazuyoshi (Wako, JP), Sakai;
Seishu (Wako, JP) |
Assignee: |
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Tokyo,
JP)
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Family
ID: |
40640572 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/274,086 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2008 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20090126526 A1 |
May 21, 2009 |
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Foreign Application Priority Data
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Nov 21, 2007 [JP] |
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2007-302254 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
74/502.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F16C
1/18 (20130101); G05G 1/04 (20130101); B62D
51/001 (20130101); Y10T 74/20438 (20150115) |
Current International
Class: |
F16C
1/10 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;74/489,500.5,501.6,502.2,526 ;56/10.8 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Johnson; Vicky A
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Arent Fox LLP
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An operation lever structure comprising: an attachment bracket
mounted to a handle; an operation lever swingably provided on the
attachment bracket, the operation lever including a pair of side
walls and a bottom part that jointly form the operation lever into
a substantially U shape in cross-section; a link having one end
pivotally connected to the attachment bracket and an opposite end
moveable along a pair of guide holes formed in the side walls of
the operation lever; and an operation cable having an end pivotally
connected to the link proximate the opposite end of the link,
wherein the link is disposed between the operation lever and the
handle and the opposite end is movably supported on the operation
lever, the operation cable is operated by pulling the operation
lever toward the handle to cause the link to swing, and the bottom
part of the operation lever has a discharge opening for discharging
therethrough a foreign matter entered the operation lever.
2. The operation lever structure of claim 1, further comprising a
cover for covering the guide holes and the discharge opening, the
cover having an opening in a front part thereof.
3. The operation lever structure of claim 2, wherein the opening of
the cover is disposed to be oriented downward when the operation
lever is pulled toward the handle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an operation lever structure in
which an operation lever is pulled toward a handle, whereby a link
is caused to swing, and an operation cable is operated.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Amongst operation lever structures of work machines, there is known
in the art and disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Application
Laid-Open Publication No. 64-114 (JP-U 64-000114 A) an operation
lever structure having an operation lever swingably provided to a
handle, a link disposed between the operation lever and the handle,
one end of the link rotatably attached to the handle, the other end
moveably supported on the operation lever, and an operation cable
connected to the link.
Rollers are rotatably provided to the other end of the link of the
operation lever structure, and the rollers are moveably supported
on a bottom part of the operation lever. Accordingly, when the
operation lever is gripped and pulled toward the handle, the
rollers move along the bottom part of the operation lever, whereby
the link moves in a swinging motion around the one end.
According to the above described operation lever structure,
gripping the operation lever and pulling toward the handle enables
the link to move in a swinging motion and the operation cable to be
operated (pulled). Operating (pulling) the operation cable makes it
possible to switch between working and stopping operations, such as
for braking and clutching.
In a state in which the operation cable is operated (pulled) by the
link, the operation cable approaches the one end of the link.
Therefore, a decrease is seen in the returning force of the link
produced by the reactive force of the operation cable, and the
gripping force required for the operator to keep the operation
lever in the working position can be minimized.
Therefore, it is conceivable that dirt, rocks, and other foreign
matter can enter the bottom part of the operation lever while work
is being performed by the work machine. In a case in which foreign
matter has entered and accumulated in the bottom part, it becomes
difficult for the rollers to move smoothly along the bottom part,
and the operability of the operation lever is compromised.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an operation lever
structure that can minimize the gripping force required in order to
keep the operation lever in the actuating position, and that can
improve the operability of the operation lever.
According to the present invention, there is provided an operation
lever structure which comprises: an operation lever; and a link,
wherein the operation lever includes a pair of side walls and a
bottom part that jointly form the operation lever into a
substantially U shape in cross-section, and is swingably provided
on a handle, the link is disposed between the operation lever and
the handle and has one end rotatably attached to the handle and an
opposite end movably supported on the operation lever, the link is
adapted to allow connection of an operation cable thereto such that
the operation cable is operated by pulling the operation lever
toward the handle to cause the link to swing, the link has moving
parts at the opposite end, the side walls of the operation lever
have respective guide holes for movably supporting the moving
parts, and the bottom part of the operation lever has a discharge
opening for discharging therethrough a foreign matter entered the
operation lever.
In this arrangement, disposing the link between the operation lever
and the handle enables the full length of the link to be made
shorter than the operation lever. It is accordingly possible to
ensure that the angle at which the link swings is greater than that
of the operation lever. As a result, it is possible to bring the
operation cable connected to the link closer to the one end part of
the link that acts as a point of support. Therefore, it is possible
to reduce the return force of the link derived from the reactive
force of the operation cable, and minimize the gripping force
required in order for the operator to keep the operation lever in
the working position.
Further, the moving parts are provided at the other end of the link
and are disposed within the operation lever. The moving parts are
moveably supported in a pair of side wall guide holes, whereby the
moving parts can be separated from a bottom part. Accordingly, a
discharge opening can be provided to the bottom part; and dirt,
rocks, and other foreign matter that has entered the operation
lever can be discharged through the discharge opening. As a result,
the moving parts become capable of moving smoothly along the guide
holes without being affected by any foreign matter that has
entered, and the operability of the operation lever can be
improved.
Preferably, the operation lever has a cover for covering the guide
holes and the discharge opening, the cover having an opening in a
front part. It is accordingly possible to prevent the fingers from
covering the guide holes and blocking the discharge opening when
the operation lever is gripped. As a result, the moving parts
become capable of moving smoothly along the guide holes, improving
the operability of the lever; and foreign matter can be readily
discharged through the discharge opening, improving the capacity of
the apparatus to discharge foreign matter.
Having the guide holes and the discharge opening covered by the
cover makes it possible to prevent dirt, rocks, and other foreign
matter from entering the holes.
Additionally, having the guide holes and the discharge opening
covered by the cover makes it possible to improve the
appearance.
Moreover, the presence of the opening in the front part of the
cover allows dirt, rocks, or other foreign matter discharged
through the discharge opening to be discharged via the front
opening. It is thereby possible to cause the dirt, rocks, or other
foreign matter to be discharged away from the operator, and to
improve operability.
Desirably, the opening of the cover is disposed so as to face
downward in a state in which the operation lever is pulled toward
the handle. The dirt, rocks, and other foreign matter discharged
through the discharge opening can thereby be even more readily
discharged through the front opening.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described
in detail below, by way of example only, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a side elevational view showing a walk-behind work
machine having an operation lever structure according to the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the operation lever
structure shown in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the operation lever
structure shown in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the operation lever shown in
FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.
2;
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation lever of
FIG. 2 in a clutch-disengaged state;
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the operation lever of
FIG. 6 in a clutch-engaged state;
FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic views showing the operation lever of
FIG. 2 in operation; and
FIGS. 9A and 9B are schematic views showing states in which dirt,
rocks, and other foreign matter that have entered the operation
lever are discharged.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A walk-behind power tiller will be described as an example of the
work machine according to the present invention.
As shown in FIG. 1, a walk-behind work machine 10 comprises an
engine 12 mounted on an upper part of a machine body 11,
left-and-right wheels 14 provided to a lower end part of the
machine body 11 via a vehicle shaft 13, a tilling device 15
provided to a rear part of the machine body 11, left-and-right
handles 16, 17 provided to the rear part of the machine body 11,
and an operation lever structure 20 provided to the vicinity of a
left gripping part 18 of the left handle 16.
The tilling device 15 comprises a tilling cover 22 attached to the
rear part of the machine body 11 so as to be capable of moving up
and down, a tilling claw 24 provided underneath the tilling cover
22 on a rotating shaft 23, and a power transmission part (not
shown) for transferring the rotation of the engine 12 to the
rotational shaft 23.
The engine 12 is driven, the left-and-right wheels 14 rotate, and
the tilling claw 24 rotates, whereby the work of tilling the soil
is performed by the tilling claw 24 while the left-and-right wheels
14 cause the walk-behind work machine 10 to advance.
As shown in FIG. 2, the operation lever structure 20 comprises an
attachment bracket 31 provided to the lower part of the vicinity of
the left gripping part 18 of the left handle 16, an operation lever
32 swingably provided to the attachment bracket 31, a link 33
disposed between the operation lever 32 and the left handle 16,
connecting means 28 for moveably connecting the link 33 to the
operation lever 32, an operation cable 36 connected to the link 33,
and a cover 38 provided to the operation lever 32.
As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the attachment bracket 31 comprises an
inside bracket side wall 41 and an outside bracket side wall 42
extending downward from the lower part of the left handle 16, and a
hollow support tube 43 that passes through the inside and outside
bracket side walls 41, 42.
Inside and outside anchoring holes 45, 46 are formed rearward of
the support tube 43 on each of the inside and outside bracket side
walls 41, 42.
The operation lever 32 has a substantially U-shaped cross-section
formed from inside and outside side walls (a pair of side walls)
51, 52 and a bottom part 53 that connects the inside and outside
side walls 51, 52. A support pin 55 passes through support holes
51a, 52a formed in the inside and outside side walls 51, 52 and the
support tube 43, whereby the operation lever 32 is swingably
provided on the support pin 55.
As shown in FIG. 4, a height H1 of a front end part 32a of the
operation lever 32 is formed to be greater than a height H2 of a
rear end part 32b.
The bottom part 53 of the operation lever 32 extends in a curved
shape from the vicinity of the front end part 32a towards a central
part 32c. The height of the central part 32c is the same as the
height H2 of the rear end part 32b.
An inside guide hole (guide hole) 56 is formed in the inside side
wall 51, and an outside guide hole (guide hole) 57 (see FIG. 3) is
formed in the outside side wall 52. The inside and outside guide
holes 56, 57 are formed in a curved shape following that of the
bottom part 53. A discharge opening 58 is formed in the bottom part
53.
The cover 38 is provided to a front region 32d of the central part
32c of the operation lever 32.
The cover 38 comprises inside and outside cover side walls 61, 62,
a cover bottom part 69 for joining the inside and outside cover
side walls 61, 62 together, front and rear inside cover upper parts
63, 64 provided to the upper end part of the inside cover side wall
61, an inside protuberance 65 projecting from the front inside
cover upper part 63, front and rear outside cover upper parts 66,
67 provided to the upper end part of the outside cover side wall
62, and an outside protuberance 68 projecting from the front
outside cover upper part 66.
A space S is formed between the front and rear inside cover upper
parts 63, 64 and the front and rear outside cover upper parts 66,
67, and an opening 71 is formed in a front part 38a.
The cover 38 is fitted onto the operation lever 32 using the space
S of the cover, and the rear inside cover upper part 64 and the
rear outside cover upper part 67 are disposed flush with an upper
area 32e (see FIG. 3) of the operation lever 32.
As shown in FIG. 3, the inside protuberance 65 is welded to the
inside side wall 51, and the outside protuberance 68 is welded to
the outside side wall 52, whereby the cover 38 is attached to the
operation lever 32. In this state, the inside and outside guide
holes 56, 57 and the discharge opening 58 can be covered by the
cover 38.
It is accordingly possible to prevent the inside and outside guide
holes 56, 57 from being covered by the fingers, and the discharge
opening 58 from being blocked by the fingers when the operation
lever 32 is gripped.
Having the cover 38 cover the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57
and the discharge opening 58 makes it possible to prevent dirt,
rocks, and other foreign matter from entering through the inside
and outside guide holes 56, 57.
Additionally, having the cover 38 cover the inside and outside
guide holes 56, 57 and the discharge opening 58 makes it possible
to improve the appearance.
Moreover, the presence of the opening 71 in the front part 38a of
the cover 38 allows dirt, rocks, or other foreign matter 88 (see
FIG. 9) discharged through the discharge opening 58 and the inside
and outside guide holes to be discharged via the opening 71.
The opening 71 opens on the side opposite the operator, and
therefore it is possible to cause the dirt, rocks, or other foreign
matter 88 to be discharged away from the operator.
The opening 71 formed in the front part 38a of the cover 38 is
disposed so as to face downward (see FIG. 6) in a state in which
the operation lever 32 has been pulled toward the left handle 16
(left grip 18).
As shown in FIG. 5, the link 33 is disposed between the operation
lever 32 and the left handle 16.
An inside link piece 73 and an outside link piece 74 of the link 33
are provided across a fixed gap, and the inside and outside link
pieces 73, 74 are integrally connected by a linking piece 75.
One end part 33a of the link 33 is pivotably supported on the
attachment bracket 31 via a support pin 76.
The support pin 76 is attached to an inside support hole 45 of the
inside bracket side wall 41 and to an outside support hole 46 of
the outside bracket side wall 42.
As shown in FIG. 6, the link 33 is offset so as to be separated to
the rear of the support pin 55 by a predetermined distance.
Accordingly, the center of the swinging movement of the link 33 is
offset rearward from the center of the swinging movement of the
operation lever 32.
As shown in FIG. 5, the link 33 is connected to the operation lever
32 by the connecting means 28 provided to another end part 33b.
The connecting means 28 comprises a pivot pin 35 provided to the
other end part 33b. A distal end part 35a of the moving pin 35
protrudes from the inside link piece 73. An inside roller (moving
part) 34 is rotatably attached to the distal end part 35a. A head
part 35b of the moving pin 35 protrudes from the outside link piece
74. An outside roller (moving part) 34 is rotatably attached to the
moving pin 35 at the head part 35b side.
The inside and outside rollers 34 are moveably supported in each of
the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57. Accordingly, the other
end part 33b of the link 33 is moveably supported on the inside and
outside side walls 51, 52.
A rear end part 36a of the operation cable 36 is connected via a
connecting pin 84 to the link 33 in the vicinity of the other end
part 33b.
The reference symbol W1 designates the width of the inside and
outside guide holes 56, 57 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) and the reference
symbol W2 designates the width of the discharge opening 58.
The reference symbol W3 designates the amount of space between the
inside side wall 51 and the inside cover side wall 61, the
reference symbol W3 designates the amount of space between the
outside side wall 52 and the outside cover side wall 62, and the
reference symbol W4 designates the amount of space between the
bottom part 53 and the cover bottom part 69.
The relationship W1.ltoreq.W3.ltoreq.W4 is established, taking the
width of the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57 as W1, the
amount of space between the inside side wall 51 and the inside
cover side wall 61 as W3, the amount of space between the outside
side wall 52 and the outside cover side wall 62 as W3, and the
amount of space between the bottom part 53 and the cover bottom
part 69 as W4.
As a result, the dirt, rocks, or other foreign matter 88 (see FIG.
9) discharged into the cover 38 from the inside and outside guide
holes 56, 57 are readily guided to the cover bottom part 69 of the
cover 38.
The relationship W2.ltoreq.W4 is established with regard to the
width W2 of the discharge opening 58 and the amount of space W4
between the bottom part 53 and the cover bottom part 69.
As a result, the dirt, rocks or other foreign matter 88 (see FIG.
9) are readily guided from the discharge opening 58 to the cover
bottom part 69 of the cover 38.
The inside and outside guide holes 56, 57 shall now be described
with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7. The inside and outside guide holes
56, 57 have the same shape; therefore, the inside guide hole 56
shall be described without a description of the outside guide hole
57 being provided.
The inside guide hole 56 moves about the support pin 55. The inside
roller 34 moves about the support pin 76.
Therefore, the shape of the inside guide hole 56 can be formed so
as to cause the inside roller 34 to move rearward while the
operation lever 32 is moved from a clutch-disengaged position P1,
to a clutch-engaged position P2.
In this case, the inside roller 34 moves along the inside guide
hole 56 from a front end part 56a to a rear end part 56b.
In order for these conditions to be fulfilled, the inside guide
hole 56 is formed into a curve-shaped hole by the curve-shaped
inside and outside side areas 56c, 56d and front and rear end parts
56a, 56b.
The inside and outside rollers 34 are moveably supported in the
inside and outside guide holes 56, 57, and are thereby able to be
released from the bottom part 53.
Accordingly, the discharge opening 58 is provided to the bottom
part 53, and the dirt, rocks and other foreign matter 88 (see FIG.
9) that have entered the operation lever 32 can be discharged
through the discharge opening 58.
As a result, the inside and outside rollers 34 are able to move
smoothly along the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57 without
being affected by the foreign matter 88 that has entered.
The cover bottom part 69 of the cover 38 is formed so as to face
downward toward the opening 71 in a state in which the operation
lever 32 is disposed between the clutch-disengaged position P1 and
the clutch-engaged position P2.
This arrangement allows the dirt, rocks and other foreign matter 88
(see FIG. 9) that have been discharged through the discharge
opening 58 to be readily discharged through the opening 71.
The opening 71 is disposed facing downward particularly in the
clutch-engaged state, in which the operation lever 32 is pulled
toward the left handle 16 (left grip 18). This arrangement allows
the dirt, rocks and other foreign matter 88 (see FIG. 9) that have
been discharged through the discharge opening 58 to be even more
readily discharged through the opening 71.
An example in which the operation lever 32 is moved from the
clutch-disengaged position P1 to the clutch-engaged position P2
shall now be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.
As shown in FIG. 6, pulling the operation lever 32 toward the left
handle 16 (left grip 18) swings the operation lever 32 away from
the clutch-disengaged position P1 as indicated by arrow A around
the support pin 55.
Accordingly, the inside guide hole 56 moves about the support pin
55 as indicated by arrow A. Through this action the inside roller
34 is pulled rearward by the front end part 56a of the inside guide
hole 56 (see FIG. 7).
The other end part 33b of the link 33 connected to the inside
roller 34 via the moving pin 35 is pulled rearward.
The link 33 begins to swing in the counterclockwise direction about
the support pin 76 as indicated by arrow B.
The swinging of the link 33 causes the operation cable 36 to be
moved (pulled) as indicated by arrow C.
The inside guide hole 56 continues to move about the support pin
55, whereby the inside roller 34 is pulled rearward by the outside
side area 56c of the inside guide hole 56. Accordingly, the inside
roller 34 moves along the inside guide hole 56 toward the rear end
part 56b. This action causes the link 33 to continue to swing in
the direction indicated by arrow B about the support pin 76.
The continuing of the link 33 to swing causes the operation cable
36 to continue to be operated (be pulled) as well.
As shown in FIG. 7, the operation lever 32 is disposed in the
clutch-engaged position P2 in a state wherein the operation lever
32 is pushed against the left handle 16 (left grip 18).
The inside roller 34 reaches the rear end part 56b of the inside
guide hole 56 (see FIG. 6), and the operation cable 36 is pulled to
the clutch-engaged position.
In this state, the operation cable 36 connected to the link 33
approaches the support pin 76. It is accordingly possible to reduce
the return force of the link 33 derived from the reactive force of
the operation cable 36, and to minimize the gripping force required
by the operator in order to keep the operation lever 32 in the
clutch-engaged position P2 with their left hand.
The link 33 is provided between the operation lever 32 and the left
handle 16, and the operation cable 36 is connected to the link 33.
Therefore, the amount of movement required when moving the
operation lever 32 from the clutch-disengaged position P1 to the
clutch-engaged position P2 is minimized, and the operation cable 36
can be kept at an appropriate amount of tension.
The gripping force required in order to keep the operation lever 32
in the clutch-engaged position P2 and the amount of movement of the
operation lever 32 are thus minimized, thereby improving the
operating characteristics.
To return the operation lever 32 to the clutch-disengaged position
P1, the fingers are removed from the operation lever 32, and the
hold on the operation lever 32 is released.
The spring force of a return spring (not shown) provided to the
operation lever 32 and the return force of the operation cable 36
cause the operation lever 32 to swing away from the clutch-engaged
position P2 about the support pin 55, as indicated by arrow D.
The link 33 swings in the clockwise direction about the support pin
76, in concert with the swinging of the operation lever 32. This
movement causes the operation lever 32 to return to the
clutch-disengaged position P1 from the clutch-engaged position
P2.
A state in which the operation lever 32 is gripped in the left hand
85 shall now be described with reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B.
FIG. 8A shows a state in which the operation lever 32 is gripped in
the left hand 85 while in the clutch-disengaged position P1.
A region of the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57 excluding the
front end parts 56a, 57a is covered by the inside and outside side
walls 61, 62 (see FIG. 4) of the cover 38.
Substantially the rear half portion of the discharge opening 58 is
covered by the cover bottom part 69 (see FIG. 4) of the cover 38.
It is accordingly possible to prevent the fingers (particularly the
thumb and forefinger) of the left hand 85 gripping the operation
lever 32 from covering the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57
and blocking the discharge opening 58.
FIG. 8B shows a state in which the operation lever 32 is gripped by
the left hand 85 while in the clutch-engaged position P2.
As illustrated in FIG. 8A, a region of the inside and outside guide
holes 56, 57 excluding the front end parts 56a, 57a and
substantially the rear half portion of the discharge opening 58 are
covered by the cover 38. It is accordingly possible to prevent the
fingers (particularly the thumb and forefinger) of the left hand 85
gripping the operation lever 32 from covering the inside and
outside guide holes 56, 57 and blocking the discharge opening
58.
It is thus possible to prevent the fingers from covering the inside
and outside guide holes 56, 57 and blocking the discharge opening
58 when the operation lever 32 is gripped by the left hand 85;
therefore, the inside and outside rollers 34 are caused to move
smoothly along the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57 and the
operability of the lever is improved. In addition, it is possible
for the foreign matter 88 (see FIG. 9) to be readily discharged
through the discharge opening 58 and to improve the capacity of the
apparatus to discharge foreign matter.
A case in which dirt, rocks, or other foreign matter have entered
the operation lever 32 shall now be described with reference to
FIGS. 9A and 9B.
In FIG. 9A, dirt, rocks and other foreign matter (hereinbelow
referred to as "foreign matter") 88 enter as shown by arrow E
through left and right upper openings 86 of the operation lever
32.
The foreign matter 88 that has entered descends along the inside
and outside side walls 51, 52. Some of the descending foreign
matter 88 is guided through the inside and outside guide holes 56,
57 into the cover 38 as indicated by arrow F. The remaining foreign
matter 88 is guided through the discharge opening 58 into the cover
38 as indicated by arrow G.
In FIG. 9B, the foreign matter 88 that has been guided into the
cover 38 descends to the ground through the opening 71 as indicated
by arrow H.
Keeping the operation lever 32 in the clutch-engaged position P2
increases the angle of inclination .theta. of the cover bottom part
69 of the cover 38. Therefore, the foreign matter 88 that has been
guided inside the cover 38 can slide readily down to the opening
71, and reliably be allowed to fall through the opening 71. As a
result, the foreign matter 88 that has entered the operation lever
32 can be reliably discharged. Therefore, the inside and outside
rollers 34 can be caused to move smoothly along the inside and
outside guide holes 56, 57 without being affected by any foreign
matter 88 that has entered, and the operability of the operation
lever 32 can be improved. Moreover, since the opening 71 opens on
the side opposite the operator, it is possible to cause the dirt,
rocks, or other foreign matter 88 to be discharged away from the
operator, and operability can be further improved.
In the abovedescribed embodiment, an example is shown of an
operation lever structure applied to a walk-behind power tiller 10;
however, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the
operation lever structure can be applied to walk-behind lawn
mowers, walk-behind grass cutters, and other work machines.
In the abovedescribed embodiment, an example is described of the
operation lever structure applied to a clutch lever; however, the
present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to
brake levers and other operation lever structures.
In the abovedescribed embodiment, an example is described in which
inside and outside rollers 34 serving as inside and outside moving
bodies are rotatably provided to the moving pin 35; however, the
present invention is not limited thereto, and it is also possible
for the inside and outside rollers 34 to be non-rotatably provided
to the moving pin 35. In a case in which the inside and outside
rollers 34 are non-rotatably provided, the inside and outside
rollers 34 slide along the inside and outside guide holes 56, 57
and thereby move.
The present invention is suitably applied in work machines having
an operation lever structure for pulling an operation lever toward
a handle, and thereby operating an operation cable.
Obviously, various minor changes and modifications of the present
invention are possible in light of the above teaching. It is
therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended
claims the invention may be practices otherwise than as
specifically described.
* * * * *